Enzymedica Frequently Asked Questions
[These answers are provided by
Enzymedica.com, and are used with permission]
1. What are enzymes?
2. Why haven't I heard about
enzymes before now?
3. What constitutes a healthy
body?
4. What enzymes should I take
for proper digestion?
5. Where do we get enzymes?
6. How do enzymes work in our
bodies?
7. How can you preserve your
body's enzyme level?
8. What is some other evidence
that we waste our enzymes?
9. Can our bodies make enzymes
to replace old worn-out excreted ones?
10. As we age, do our enzymes
get weaker?
11. Why does our ability to
produce enzymes grow
weaker as we grow older?
12. How do I choose the
correct enzyme supplement for my needs?
13. Do athletes and physically
active people have different enzymes needs than others?
14. I'm trying to body build
and I was wondering if enzymes will help me with that?
15. Which product should I
take, Repair or SerraGold?
16. Can enzymes control
obesity?
17. Can enzymes therapy help
arthritis?
18. Can enzymes help with
allergies?
19. Can enzymes lower
cholesterol?
20. Can enzymes help with
diabetes?
21. Can enzymes help with
hypoglycemia?
22. Will enzymes interfere
with my medication?
23. Can supplemental enzymes
help slow the aging process?
24. What about controlling the
effects of an acquired disease?
25. Why are Enzymedica
products not measured in mg (weight)?
26. How do enzymes support the
immune system?
27. Do supplemental enzymes
stop the body from producing its own enzymes? Addiction? Overdosing?
28. Why do none of the
Enzymedica products contain HCL (Betane hydrochloric acid)?
29. What is the difference
between "therapeutic" and "digestive" enzymes?
30. How quickly will I see
results with the use of enzymes?
31. What side effects should I
expect from the use of supplemental enzymes?
32. Which products are best
for heartburn or acid reflux?
33. Are supplemental enzymes
destroyed by stomach acid?
1. What are enzymes?
Enzymes are protein chemicals, which carry a vital energy factor needed for
every chemical action, and reaction that occurs in our body. There are
approximately 1300 different enzymes found in the human cell. These enzymes can
combine with coenzymes to form nearly 100,000 various chemicals that enable us
to see, hear, feel, move, digest food, and think. Every organ, every tissue,
and all the 100 trillion cells in our body depend upon the reactions of
metabolic enzymes and their energy factor. Nutrition cannot be explained
without describing the part that enzymes play.
RETURN TO TOP
RETURN TO FAQ PAGE
2. Why haven't I heard about enzymes before now?
Pharmaceutical companies placed the focus on vitamins and minerals. During the
1930s, Dr. Wolfe in Germany discovered the use of animal enzymes. During the
same time period, Dr. Howell in America discovered the use of plant enzyme
supplements. Research from these two health pioneers has paved the way for the
enzyme supplementation that is used today.
Research in the mid 1940s established that the presence or absence of an enzyme
in the body is heritable and governed by our DNA. In other words, we inherit
our ability to produce or not produce the necessary enzymes needed for life.
Science has further established that our very life is made possible by
enzymatic action. In other words, we could not exist without enzymes and as we
age our ability to make metabolic enzymes lessens. Disease is considered
nothing more than the lack of or imbalance of enzymes. Enzyme imbalances may be
inherited or they can be created.
Even with all this information, enzyme education in America did not begin until
the mid 1980s. Enzyme supplementation became an accepted health care
alternative in the 1990s because research has proven:
Enzyme supplements
are not destroyed by stomach acid. (It was thought and taught that enzyme
supplements could not be useful because they were destroyed in the hostile
environment of the stomach).
Anyone who eats
cooked or processed food requires supplementation to assist digestion. So far
as science has been able to discover, the only function any vitamin has is the
role it plays in supporting enzymes.
Vitamins and
minerals are coenzymes meaning they require an enzyme to work.
RETURN TO TOP
RETURN TO FAQ PAGE
3. What constitutes a healthy
body?
Complete health is the sum total of the soundness of our own individual enzyme
system. The health of our organs and glands is completely dependent upon our
enzyme making abilities. When we are ill, it is because our organs and glands,
individually or collectively, cannot function at ideal levels. This is
completely influenced by the absence or deficiency of metabolic enzymes.
Inherited genes (DNA) control our body's production of metabolic enzymes.
Research in the mid 1940's established that some people inherit a low enzyme
potential and come into this life with an enzyme deficiency. For those of us
born with normal enzyme potential we still lose our ability to produce
metabolic enzymes as we age.
Diet is an influence on the health of our glands and organs, and it interacts
directly with our genetics. However, good nutrition alone is not enough to
attain the genetic potential of your organs and glands. Only if we eat the best
of foods with the proper enzymes to assist in their digestion, can we alleviate
stress on the entire system and increase the body's ability to fight off
disease. Enzymes are vital to the ability of glands and organs to receive the
specific nutrients they require to function properly.
RETURN TO TOP
RETURN TO FAQ PAGE
4. What enzymes should I take for proper digestion?
Protease breaks down protein, amylase breaks down carbohydrate and starch, and
lipase breaks down fat. These three enzymes break down the majority of the type
of food you eat. Added to these are: lactase (break down lactose-dairy),
maltase & sucrase (break down food sugars), plus cellulase (break down
cellulose and needed by those with food allergies).
RETURN TO TOP
RETURN TO FAQ PAGE
5. Where do we get enzymes?
Our body makes enzymes called metabolic enzymes. They are responsible for every
action that takes place in our body including digestion.
Enzymes are found in raw foods. However, there are just enough enzymes in each
particular food to assist in the breakdown of that food.
Supplemental plant enzymes are grown from food and measured by their action.
They are sold in capsules or powder form. These enzymes can be ingested with
food to assist in the digestion of food and the absorption of the nutrients.
They can also be taken between meals to energize the body, fortify organs and
build our biological defense system.
RETURN TO TOP
RETURN TO FAQ PAGE
6. How do enzymes work in our bodies?
When we eat raw foods, heat and moisture in the mouth activate the enzymes in
the food. Once active, these enzymes digest all of our food and make it small
enough to pass through the villi (small pores of the intestines) and into the
blood. The metabolic enzymes found in the blood then take the digested
nutrients and build them into muscles, nerves, bones, blood, lungs, and various
glands. Every cell in the body depends on certain enzymes. A protein digestive
enzyme will not digest a fat; a fat enzyme will not digest a starch
(carbohydrate). Each enzyme has a specific function in the body; this is
referred to as enzyme specificity. Enzymes act upon chemicals and change them
into other chemicals, but enzymes themselves remain unchanged. Simply stated,
our chemicals are changed from their original identify by the enzyme to other
chemicals with a different identity. Without enzymes nothing in our body would
work.
RETURN TO TOP
RETURN TO FAQ PAGE
7. How can you preserve your body's enzyme level?
It seems that we inherit a certain enzyme potential at birth. However, if we
depend solely on our body to produce all the enzymes we need, our enzyme
potential will be depleted at a much faster rate than nature intended. To
fortify your enzyme potential, you must eat raw foods as much and often as
possible and/or take certain enzyme supplements. Failure to do so may result in
serious illness or even early death.
RETURN TO TOP
RETURN TO FAQ PAGE
8. What is some other evidence that we waste our enzymes?
Only humans can live a long time on enzyme-free food. All wild animals get
their enzymes from raw food. Wild animals using raw food do not have the rich
concentrations of enzyme activity in their digestive juices that humans do. For
example, wild animals (deer, elephants, and other ruminants) have no enzymes at
all in their saliva. When we examine human saliva, we find high concentrations
of ptyalin (an amylase enzyme that digests starch). When dogs and cats eat
their natural raw, carnivorous diet, there are no enzymes in the saliva.
However, when dogs are fed on a high carbohydrate, heat-treated diet, like
humans, enzymes show up in the saliva within about a week. This indicates that
we waste our enzymes to digest cooked food. Our body has to adapt and start
making more digestive enzymes thus reducing the availability of many of the
other metabolic enzymes needed to run and maintain our body's systems and
cells.
Other evidence that suggest we may be wasting our reserves of enzymes is the
fact that, with relation to total body size, a wild animal has a smaller
pancreas in comparison to the human pancreas. This suggests that wild animals
get along with far less pancreatic enzymes than humans do.
RETURN TO TOP
RETURN TO FAQ PAGE
9. Can our bodies make enzymes to replace old worn-out
excreted ones?
The body can make enzymes. However, research confirms that it is self-defeating
to obligate the body to make excessive amounts of highly concentrated digestive
enzymes for digest due to the drain this places on the rest of the organs and
tissues. Stress and hard physical labor in hot temperatures seem to use up more
enzymes, which could shorten your life. To prevent this enzyme loss from
shortening your life span, you have only one solution: you must provide enzyme
reinforcements from an outside source in order to cut down the secretion of
digestive enzymes and allow your body to make enough metabolic enzymes.
RETURN TO TOP
RETURN TO FAQ PAGE
10. As we age, do our enzymes get weaker?
Yes. Research found that the enzyme of the saliva in young adults was 30 times
stronger than in persons over 69 years old. Another researcher found amylase to
be stronger in the urine of young adults as compared to older adults. There is
an abundance of literature that shows experimental animals live longer when
their food is significantly reduced. An explanation of this research finding
could be that less food means fewer digestive enzymes are required to digest
the reduced food intake. This could contribute to a higher enzyme potential,
which could keep death away as well as arm the body against disease.
RETURN TO TOP
RETURN TO FAQ PAGE
11. Why does our ability to produce enzymes grow weaker as
we grow older?
One research study enlisted 10 young and 10 older men and used a drug to
stimulate the pancreatic juice flow. The juice was then pumped out and tested.
It was found that the enzyme amylase was much weaker in the older men. It was
determined that the enzyme deficiency of the older group was due to exhaustion
in the cells of the pancreas. Other research indicates that not only do our
enzymes get weaker in the pancreas, but they also weaken in the trillions of
cells in our body. One explanation for this might be that our pancreas, which
weighs only 3 ounces, cannot begin to supply the vast amount of enzyme activity
required by the pancreatic secretion, not to mention the tremendous need for
protein to equip the enzyme complex (molecular structure of the enzyme). The
pancreas must borrow these entities stored in the cells to make the enzyme
complex. This could be a definition of "old age". Because old age and
debilitated metabolic enzyme activity are synonymous, if we postpone the
debilitation of metabolic enzyme activity, then we might delay the aging
process.
RETURN TO TOP
RETURN TO FAQ PAGE
12. How do I choose the
correct enzyme supplement for my needs?
We consider a twofold approach. First begin with a digestive. Digestion is the
foundation of health. The better we digest our foods, the more nutrients we
have the possibility of assimilating safely and easily while improving the
removal of waste. Second consider a therapeutic enzyme (taken on an empty
stomach, usually between meals). Consider what the number one issue you are
trying to overcome or reduce the negative effects of and choose the correct
formula that would match your goals.
RETURN TO TOP
RETURN TO FAQ PAGE
13. Do athletes and physically active people have different
enzymes needs than others?
Yes, in theory athletes have a greater need for enzymes. Research has shown
that enzymes are lost in perspiration and the body uses up enzymes during
exercise. This is especially true for those that push their body to extreme
endurance levels, such as levels that are characterized by cramps and
dehydration problems.
RETURN TO TOP
RETURN TO FAQ PAGE
14. I'm trying to body build and I was wondering if enzymes
will help me with that?
Most likely. If muscle tissue enzymes were not working in the muscle tissue,
there would be no muscular growth, not even the basic muscular activity to
create growth. Enzymes are the catalysts that turn food into energy to make the
muscles move and grow.
RETURN TO TOP
RETURN TO FAQ PAGE
15. Which product should I take, Repair or SerraGold?
Repair is recommended to help speed the recovery of sore muscles due to
overexertion or damage. SerraGold is recommended for those that suffer
from discomfort, swelling and stiffness. Both may be taken together in severe
cases.
RETURN TO TOP
RETURN TO FAQ PAGE
16. Can enzymes control obesity?
Definitely. Obese individuals were found to have deficiency in the enzyme
lipase. Lipase is found in abundance in raw foods. Cooking destroys lipase in
raw foods. Lipase is the enzyme that aids the body in breaking down and storing
fats. Without lipase, our fat stagnates and accumulates in our arteries, which
could lead to heart disease. Lipase also helps us to burn fat for energy. By
eating cooked foods, which have no enzymes, we will put weight on more
abundantly than if we eat raw foods. For example, pig farmers will not feed
their pigs raw potatoes because the pigs stay lean. Instead, the farmers feed
the pigs boiled potatoes and the pigs become fat.
Another reason why enzymes reduce obesity is because cooked foods cause drastic
changes in the size and appearance of the pituitary gland. Researchers have
found that enzymes affect our hormone-producing glands and hormones influence
our enzyme levels. Cooked foods cause our pancreas, thyroid, and pituitary
glands to exhaust their enzymes to digest our food. This causes our body to
become sluggish, leading to weight gain. Raw food calories are relatively
non-stimulating to glands and stabilize body weight more so than cooked food
calories.
RETURN TO TOP
RETURN TO FAQ PAGE
17. Can enzymes therapy help arthritis?
Some researchers believe that rheumatoid arthritis might be a deficiency
disease arising from an inability to deal adequately with protein digestion and
metabolism in the small intestine. Enzymes extracted from intestinal mucosa in
the small intestine were given to persons with rheumatic ailments. Among more
than 700 patients treated with the enzyme over a period of seven years, good
results were obtained in rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and fibrositis.
It should be pointed out that for the first six to nine weeks of therapy there
might be no noticeable improvement. The longer the duration of the disease, the
longer the lag before improvement is observed.
RETURN TO TOP
RETURN TO FAQ PAGE
18. Can enzymes help with
allergies?
Many researchers theorize that being allergic to a raw food may be nature's way
of telling us that the food's enzymes are incompatible with some unhealthy
bodily condition and are trying to destroy it. This confrontation between food
enzyme and disease could result in the classic symptoms of itching, nasal
discharges, and rashes. There are various types of metabolic enzymes, including
scavenger enzymes. Scavenger enzymes are believed to patrol the blood and
dissolve the waste that accumulates from the millions of metabolic reactions
that take place each second within each cell of the body. These special enzymes
cruise about in the blood looking for dead, inert, and offensive material that
might accumulate and harm the body. In fact, some of our scavenger enzymes are
present in the white blood cells. The main function of these enzymes includes the
attempt to prevent the arteries from clogging up and the joints from being
crammed with arthritic deposits. If the scavenger enzymes find the right
substrate, they latch on and reduce it to a form that the blood can excrete. If
these scavenger enzymes cannot handle the waste, nature causes some of the
wastes to be excreted through the skin, or membranes of the nose and throat,
which produces the familiar symptoms that we call allergies. Other researchers
believe that incompletely digested protein molecules cause allergies. Allergies
may be helped if certain enzyme supplements are taken that can act as scavenger
enzymes or as protein digestive enzymes.
RETURN TO TOP
RETURN TO FAQ PAGE
19. Can enzymes lower cholesterol?
Yes, in most individuals. Remember that cholesterol is a form of fat. Research
has substantiated that consumed animal fats tend to cause cholesterol to settle
in the arteries and cause artherosclersosis. However, it has also been found
that the crystal clear "purified" vegetable oils (not heated) do not
raise the blood cholesterol level. One answer for this might lie with the fact
that lipase is found in the fat of animals (including humans) and plants. One
researcher found that the fat tissue in obese humans has less lipase than the
fat tissues in a slender person.
Three British researchers tested the enzymes in normal individuals and
individuals with atherosclerosis to find the relationship between cholesterol
and clogged arteries. They found that all enzymes studied became progressively
weaker in the arteries as persons became older and also as the hardening became
more severe. These researchers believe that a shortage of enzymes is part of a
mechanism, which allows cholesterol deposits to accumulate in the inner-part of
the arterial walls (intima). Another researcher found a progressive decline in
lipase in the blood of atherosclerotic patients with advancing middle and old
age. Yet another research found that not only was lipase low in older persons,
but that older atheroslcerotic persons had slow fat absorption from the intestine.
He also found that some absorbed fat was in the unhydrolyzed state. When he fed
lipase extracted from animal pancreas to the older and younger persons he found
a definite improvement in fat utilization.
Research confirms that when we eat fats with their enzymes intact no harmful
effect on the arteries or heart results. No atherosclerosis in the arteries
will occur. Wild animals do not have atherosclerosis because they eat raw foods
containing enzymes. However, when we cook our foods we destroy the enzymes in
the fat, which also kills the lipase. The result is cholesterol sticking to the
intima (inner lining of the artery) and heart disease. Taking plant enzyme
lipase or eating raw food will normally lower your cholesterol and may protect
you against heart disease.
RETURN TO TOP
RETURN TO FAQ PAGE
20. Can enzymes help with diabetes?
It depends on the type of your diabetes. Type II (adult-onset) normally
responds better to enzyme therapy than Type I (juvenile). Research has shown
that when there is a lack of blood amylase, blood sugar levels can be higher
than normal. When the enzyme amylase is administered, blood sugar levels drop
significantly. One researcher showed that 86% of the diabetics that he examined
had a deficiency of amylase in their intestinal secretions. He administered
amylase to a majority of these patients and found that 50% of the diabetics who
were users of insulin could control their blood sugar levels without the use of
insulin. Amylase may help with storage and utilization of sugar in the blood.
Another researcher found that cooked starch foods, where amylase and other
enzymes had been destroyed, caused the blood sugar levels to rise significantly
in one-half hour after ingestion. After two hours the cooked food starch
eaters' blood sugar level fell quickly and significantly. This resulted in
fatigue, anxiety, and sluggishness. In comparison, the raw starch eaters' blood
sugar levels only experienced a slight rise and drop. These patients
experienced a much steadier metabolic rate and emotional stability.
Many diabetics could lower their insulin requirements if they would eat raw
foods or take plant enzyme supplements.
RETURN TO TOP
RETURN TO FAQ PAGE
21. Can enzymes help with hypoglycemia?
Probably. Authorities have estimated that anywhere from ten to one hundred
million Americans are suffering from hypoglycemia. When we suffer from
hypoglycemia, every organ in our body is going to be affected by the low blood
sugar level. A drop in one's sugar level will cause mental fatigue, depression,
and sluggishness because our brain depends on glucose for its food. Our
endocrine glands, especially the pituitary, adrenals, thyroid, and pancreas,
control our glucose (sugar) level. The pancreas secretes insulin, which causes
a decrease in our glucose level by facilitating the movement of glucose into
the cell. Glucagon, another pancreatic hormone, causes our glucose level to
rise when it is too low. Our thyroid gland secretes thyroxin that controls the
rate of our cells basal metabolic rate, and usage of oxygen for energy. All of
these glands are controlled by the pituitary gland which, in turn, is
controlled by an area of the brain called the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus
receives information from all parts of the body via the nervous system. This
includes relating whether a person is hungry, depressed, happy, tired, or
sluggish.
When there is a deficiency of enzymes from our food, the pituitary and other
organs can hypertrophy (enlarge). When this happens we are more susceptible to
disease, especially hypoglycemia. When there is a lack of amylase, blood glucose
levels can be higher than normal. Intake of amylase, either supplemental or by
eating raw foods, causes the glucose level to stabilize, thus protecting
against an erratic rise or drop in the blood glucose level. This helps us with
our depression, fatigue, and sluggishness.
RETURN TO TOP
RETURN TO FAQ PAGE
22. Will enzymes interfere
with my medication?
Pharmaceutical plant enzymes only breakdown and deliver natural food sources.
Enzymes do not
deliver synthetics so
they do not interfere with your medication.
RETURN TO TOP
RETURN TO FAQ PAGE
23. Can supplemental enzymes
help slow the aging process?
According to Bob Farmer, Ph.D., a professor at Baylor University, the DNA of
our body's cells is constantly being damaged. When a cell's DNA is damaged one
of three things will happen: the cell will die; the change will be detected by
the immune system and T-cells will kill it; or the cell will simply cease to do
its assigned duty but will still hang around, using nutrients but providing no
service. Dr. Farmer feels that the later of these three, the accumulation over
a lifetime of millions of freeloading cells, is a primary cause of the aging
process. The key then is to enhance the immune system so it can find and
destroy these freeloading cells. Enzymes, along with a healthy lifestyle, can
help improve the immune system and eliminate cells which are no longer needed
by our body.
RETURN TO TOP
RETURN TO FAQ PAGE
24. What about controlling the effects of an acquired
disease?
Research is ongoing, however enzymes have been shown to benefit some people
with everything from migraine headaches, insomnia and allergies to diabetes,
heart disease and leukemia. Enzymes aid in the digestion of food and
distribution of nutrients through the body. This process allows the endocrine
system to function properly resulting in hormonal balance. When the body is
functioning properly and efficiently the immune system is better prepared to
fight any disease and maintain the balance.
RETURN TO TOP
RETURN TO FAQ PAGE
25. Why are Enzymedica
products not measured in mg (weight)?
Milligrams do not accurately reflect the potency of an enzyme. Plant based
enzymes in particular should be measured in "active units". Active units
reflect guaranteed activity of an enzyme. Weight does not guarantee activity.
RETURN TO TOP
RETURN TO FAQ PAGE
26. How do enzymes support the immune system?
Proteolytic enzymes are typically your main choice for support of the immune
system. Proteases do this through at least 3 actions. Protease will break down
proteins that are 1. Dead, 2. Damaged, or 3. Do not belong (marked with an
antibody).
RETURN TO TOP
RETURN TO FAQ PAGE
27. Do supplemental enzymes stop the body from producing its
own enzymes? Addiction? Overdosing?
No. Supplemental enzymes support normal body organ function without replacing
its effective working ability. Supplemental enzymes perform very specific
activities (Amylase breaks down carbs, Lipase breaks down fats, Protease breaks
down protein). These activities may relieve stress off of the body, reducing
the load of work, thus reducing the load of output or energy utilized by these
organs. Supplemental enzymes do not control organ function or organ production
directly. There is no known upper limit to the amount of supplemental enzymes
that can be consumed. The reason for this is that the body has 1-100 trillion
cells. Any one of those cells could be using thousands of different enzymes every
second. This allows for huge quantities to be used by the body without
addiction or overdosing.
RETURN TO TOP
RETURN TO FAQ PAGE
28. Why do none of the
Enzymedica products contain HCL (Betane hydrochloric acid)?
Enzymedica TheraBlends the four main types of enzymes in every formula -
protease, amylase, lipase and cellulase. TheraBlending allows these enzymes to
work across the board in the pH range of a 2-12. Whether the person is acidic
or alkaline every range of the human body with or without HCL, TheraBlended
enzymes are active.
RETURN TO TOP
RETURN TO FAQ PAGE
29. What is the difference between "therapeutic" and
"digestive" enzymes?
Simply put, digestive enzymes are taken with food. Therapeutic enzymes could be
the exact same enzyme but taken away from food (30 minutes before or 2 hours
after a meal) so that they are utilized in different ways. Therapeutic enzymes
work systemically in the body.
RETURN TO TOP
RETURN TO FAQ PAGE
30. How
quickly will I see results with the use of enzymes?
Digestive and therapeutic effects of enzymes work relatively fast in comparison
to many alternative therapies. The typical experience allows for the consumer
to make an educated decision on the continuing use of a particular product
within just a few days to a few weeks (Karen DeFelice recommends a minimum of 3
weeks regular use) because of the speed of results with enzymes.
RETURN TO TOP
RETURN TO FAQ PAGE
31. What side effects should I expect from the use of
supplemental enzymes?
Enzymes typically have a larger percentage of positive effects than negative
side effects. The most common negative effect is an upset stomach on the use of
large amounts of proteolytic enzymes, typically anything greater than 100,000
HUT. This is easily relived through either the discontinuation of the products
or beginning an even lower dosage that is tolerable and slowly building up the
potency. Under clinical use, some kind of positive results are gained 70-90% of
the time. No death of a patient has ever been attributed to the use of
supplemental enzymes in any quantity.
RETURN TO TOP
RETURN TO FAQ PAGE
32. Which products are best for heartburn or acid reflux?
A combination of a digestive enzyme before the meal (typically Digest) and Acid
Soothe after the meal.
RETURN TO TOP
RETURN TO FAQ PAGE
33. Are supplemental enzymes destroyed by stomach acid?
Plant based enzymes tolerate stomach acid well. They are not completely
denatured by it and a few even maintain activity in stomach acid. The same
cannot be said for animal based or glandular enzymes, which many times become
denatured in stomach acid.
RETURN TO TOP
RETURN TO FAQ PAGE
